Lana Pura's Helpful Guide to Knitting and Crochet - Knitting
Needle sizes, yarn weights, care label symbols and knitting abbreviations unraveled.
| UK SIZE | METRIC | US SIZE |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 2 mm | 0 |
| 13 | 2.25 mm | 1 |
| - | 2.5 mm | - |
| 12 | 2.75 mm | 2 |
| 11 | 3 mm | - |
| 10 | 3.25 mm | 3 |
| - | 3.5 mm | 4 |
| 9 | 3.75 mm | 5 |
| 8 | 4 mm | 6 |
| 7 | 4.5 mm | 7 |
| 6 | 5 mm | 8 |
| 5 | 5.5 mm | 9 |
| 4 | 6 mm | 10 |
| 3 | 6.5 mm | 10.5 |
| 2 | 7 | - |
| 1 | 7.5 | - |
| 0 | 8 mm | 11 |
| 00 | 9 mm | 13 |
| 000 | 10 mm | 15 |
| - | 12 mm | 17 |
| - | 15 mm | 19 |
| - | 20 mm | 36 |
| - | 25 mm | 50 |
1,2 & 3 ply – knit on 2-3.5mm needles. Use for baby garments. lace knitting, socks and gloves.
4 ply – knit on 3-4mm needles. Use for heavier socks, lightweight tops and baby clothes. US equivalent is Sport weight.
Double Knitting (DK) – knit on 3.5-4.5mm needles. The most widely used weight of yarn which is usually double the weight of 4 ply. Suitable for most garments and quick to knit up. US equivalent is Light Worsted weight.
Aran – knit on 4-5.5mm needles. Originally used for fishermen’s jumpers, it is mostly used for warm, outdoor garments. US equivalent is Worsted or Fisherman weight.
Chunky – knit on 5.5mm-7mm needles. Great for outdoor and chunky, oversized garments. US equivalent is Bulky weight.
Super Chunky – knit on 7-12mm needles. Ideal for blankets, cushions and thick chunky scarves. US equivalent is Extra Bulky weight.
Big – knit on 9-20mm needles. Quick projects – such as furnishings, scarves, jumpers.
| ABBREVIATION | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| alt | alternate |
| approx | approximately |
| beg | beginning |
| CB | cable back |
| CC | contrast colour |
| CF | cable forward |
| cm | centimetre(s) |
| CN | cable needle |
| cont | continue |
| dec | decrease - by working two stitches together |
| DK | double knitting |
| dpn | double-pointed needle |
| eor | every other row |
| foll | following |
| g | gram |
| g st | garter stitch - knit every row |
| inc | increase - normally by knitting into the same stitch twice |
| in(s) | inch(es) |
| K (or k) | knit |
| kfb | knit into front and back of stitch |
| kwise | by knitting the stitch |
| k2tog | knit next two stitches together |
| kwise | by knitting the stitch |
| LH (or lh) | left hand |
| LT | left twist |
| meas | measures |
| m | metre(s) |
| mm | millimetre(s) |
| M1 | make 1 - increase by 1 stitch |
| M1L | make 1 twisted to the left - increase by 1 stitch |
| M1R | make 1 twisted to the right - increase by 1 stitch |
| M1p | make 1 purlwise - increase by 1 stitch |
| MB | make a bobble |
| MC | main colour |
| No | number |
| oz | ounces |
| P (or p) | purl |
| patt(s) | pattern(s) |
| patt rep(s) | pattern repeat(s) |
| PB | place bead |
| ABBREVIATION | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| pfb | purl into front and back of stitch |
| PM | place marker |
| P2tog | purl 2 stitches together - decreases by one stitch |
| P3tog | purl 3 stitches together - decreases by two stitches |
| prev | previous |
| psso | pass slipped stitch over |
| p2sso | pass two slipped stitches over |
| pwise | by purling the stitch |
| rem | remain (or remaining) |
| rep(s) | repeat(s) |
| rev st st | reverse stocking stitch |
| RH (or rh) | right hand |
| rnd(s) | round(s) - on a circular needle |
| RS | right side |
| RT | right twist |
| skpo | slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, pass slipped stitch over - decreases by one stitch |
| sk2po | slip 1 stitch, knit 2 stitches together, pass slipped stitch over - decreases by two stitches |
| sl | slip |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| ssk | slip one, slip one, knit the two slipped stitches together - decreases by one stitch |
| ssp | slip one, slip one, purl the two slipped stitches together through the back of the loops - decreases by one stitch |
| sp(s) | space(s) |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| st st | stocking stitch |
| tbl | through back of loop(s) |
| tog | together |
| tr | treble crochet |
| WS | wrong side |
| wyib | with yarn in back |
| ybk | yarn to the back |
| yfwd | yarn forward |
| yo | yarn over |
| yrn | yarn round needle |
| yon | yarn over needle |
| * | marks the beginning of pattern repeats |
| [] or () | contains larger sizes or certain instructions |
